SHARKS NOTEBOOK / Stars' Modano, Sydor Are Back on the Ice

Tony Cooper

Published
4:00 am PDT, Thursday, October 14, 1999

1999-10-14 04:00:00 PDT Dallas -- Center Mike Modano and defenseman Darryl Sydor, two key Dallas players who were victims of what amounted to on-ice muggings by Anaheim a couple of Saturdays ago, were welcomed back into the Stars' lineup last night.

Modano had only two shots on goal and was a minus-one, but did play a regular shift and logged more than 20 minutes. Considering he was carried off on a stretcher after being rammed into the boards from behind by Anaheim's Ruslan Salei, just seeing Modano on the ice was heartening. He missed only three games with a concussion, strained neck ligaments and a broken nose.

"I had a lot of nerves and was trying to work through that, trying to get comfortable," Modano said. "I did some good things. My legs felt good and we clicked on a couple of plays. Personally, it's a start."

Sydor suffered a fractured eye socket when clobbered by Mighty Duck Jim McKenzie during the same October 2 contest when Modano was hurt. The offensive-minded Sydor had four shots in the third period last night, playing a healthy 22-plus minutes.

"I felt good," Sydor said. "Everything was normal." FOILED AGAIN: Sharks center Ron Sutter, not exactly a goal- scoring maven, had to give back what he thought was a goal for the second straight game. After a video review, it was ruled Sutter's shot that eluded Ed Belfour late in the first period didn't cross the goal line.

"I've got to make sure I shoot it harder so it hits the back of the net, I guess," Sutter said. "I didn't get good wood on that shot." MISCELLANY: Dallas right wing Grant Marshall left the game in the third period after aggravating a groin injury which had kept him out the first four games of the year. . . . Sharks defenseman Jeff Norton sat out for the third straight game with a sore back.